3 Cops Suspended A Day Before Telangana Polls For 'Shielding' Cash Distribution Accused

The three policemen allegedly tried to shield aides of a BRS political bigwig and failed to register a case under the relevant sections of the CrPC.

The three accused cops were allegedly trying to shield a BRS politician. (Representative photo)

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The Election Commission on Thursday suspended three police officers over alleged negligence of duty in a case related to the seizure of Rs 18 lakh cash in Musheerabad, Telangana. The suspended officers include Musheerabad Inspector SHO Jahangir Yadav, Chikkadpally ACP A Yadagiri, and Central Zone DCP M Venkateshwarlu, reported news agency ANI.

According to Deccan Chronicle, the trio allegedly tried to shield aides of a BRS politician. Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Sandeep Shandilya in his report to State Nodal Police Observer Deepak Mishra, revealed that 16 bundles of Rs 500 notes amounting to Rs 18 lakh, 2 cellphones, and 1 chequebook were found in a car at Santosh Elite apartment in Musheerabad where the politician's son lived, Deccan Chronicle stated.

Shandilya's report highlighted the actions of Yadav, stating that a case under section 102 of the CrPC was registered against unknown accused, when, in fact, sections 171(B), 171(e), and 188 IPC should have been invoked instead. "It can be easily inferred that the inspector, ACP, and the DCP have purposefully connived to screen the actual culprits and have not acted fairly," Shandilya was quoted as saying by Deccan Chronicle.

The report concluded by recommending the suspension of all three officers — the SHO, ACP, and DCP — citing their failure to act impartially and their apparent collusion in screening the real culprits.

Meanwhile, with less than 12 hours remaining for the Telangana Assembly polls, Chief Electoral Officer for Telangana Vikas Raj announced on Wednesday that approximately 12,000 critical polling stations had been identified. These stations would receive additional deployment of forces to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.

The chief electoral officer said that a total of 35,655 polling stations had been set up in Telangana. In compliance with the Election Commission's directives, model polling stations and all-women polling stations had also been arranged. Raj told ANI that all necessary measures had been taken to ensure trouble-free polling on the following day. Additionally, he highlighted the deployment of micro-observers alongside central forces to guarantee free and fair polling, especially in areas declared as Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected, where both central and state forces would be stationed.